Fluid-tight container body



Dec. 22, 1964 w. E. TAYLOR FLUID-TIGHT CONTAINER BODY Filed Dec. l. 1961 .QN MN N NM mw INVENTOR. W/LL//M U14/4R0 MYL vbrous body plies.

` liner ply as the two are fed toward the mandrel.

United States Patent Giice 3,162,347 Patented Dec. 22 1964 3,162,347 FLUID-TIGHT CONTAINER BODY William Edward Taylor, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to American Can Company, New York, NSY., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 156,267 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) The present invention relates to spirally wound fibre container bodies and has particular reference to such bodies wherein a narrow ribbon of an impervious material such as foil is used to seal the helical joint of the spirally wound body liner.

Because of the relative cheapness of fibre as opposed to metal, there has been a recent surge of interest in the use of spirally Wound fibre bodies in containers for products which need not be subjected to heat processing. Since many such products are either liquid, as in the case of motor oil, or contain moisture, as in the case of biscuit dough, it is desirable that these bodies be provided with a lining which is completely impervious to the iiuids contained in the product held by the container.

The usual way of obtaining this imperviousness in a spirally wound fibre body has been to form the inner or liner ply of the body of a material such as thin aluminum 'are formed into a helical lap or butt joint, the edges of lthe kraft backing are exposed to the fluids in the container, with the result that these fluids wick into the kraft lining and eventually reach and impregnato the main fi- This results in a softening of these main body plies and a consequent undesirable weakening of the container body.

vThe present invention contemplates a solution to this problem by providing a container construction wherein a narrow sealing ribbon of an impervious material such as foil or plastic is adhesively secured to the inside of @the container body in such position that it overlies the joint of the fibre-backed inner foil liner and seals it off v. from the container product, thereby preventing .the wickingof the product into' the kraft backing. This is done disposed relative to the sealing ribbon` The same result may be achieved if the sealing ribbon is laminated to the As a result, there is provided an economical container body constructionwhich is suitable for the packaging of many` fluid products.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision -iof a lined, spirally wound container wherein the helical edge of the liner ply is sealed by a narrow sealing ribbon j against penetrationjby the product.

Another objectr is the provision of a waterproof, moistureproof, greaseproof and oilproof spirally Woundfibre container body which can be made economically on existingequipment.

Yet another object is the provision of a method of makingfsuch a container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodi ment thereof.

Referring to ythe drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a finished liquidproof container embodying a spirally wound fibre body made according to the principles of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the body of the container of FIG. 1, the View being taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing a container body embodying a slightly modified form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the various steps in making the liquid-proof fibre body of FIG. 3 on a spiral winding machine by the method of the instant invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view, similar t0 a portion of FIG. 4, showing a slightly modified method of making the body of FIG. 3.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1 discloses a sealed container 10 formed with a fibrous multi-ply, spirally wound body 12, the opposite ends of which are closed by means of metal end members 14 which are secured thereto in crimped or interfolded end seams 16 which may be of any desired liquidatight configuration.

The container body 12 preferably is completely covered with a helically wound label ply 20 which is moisture and water resistant in order to prevent deterioration of the container in the event it is exposed to water or dampness during storage. For this purpose, the label ply 20 may comprise a thin aluminum foil 22 which is laminated to a supporting kraft paper backing 24. The edges of the label ply 20 are preferably overlapped in a lap joint 26 to increase its resistance to Water and moisture penetration.

The main wall portion of the body 12 is formed of two helically wound main body plies 2S, 30 which are formed of a tough body stock such as kraft, chipboard, or the like to provide adequate strength. The edges of the main body plies 28, 30 are disposed in butt points 32, 34, respectively, which are olfset one from the other, as clearly seen in FIG. 2.

The inner layer of the body 12 is formed of a helically wound liner ply 36 the inner surface of which is impervious to the product (not shown) which is packed in the container 10. The liner ply 36 preferably comprises a thin layer of alruninum foil 38 which is prelarninated t0 a kraft backing 4t) which support-s it and gives it strength so that it can be handled without tearing. The helical edges of the liner ply 36 are preferably butted together to form a butt joint 42. Such a joint cannot be made accurately enough to completely shield the kraft backing 40 from the product in the container 10.

In order to shield it, a narrow, helically wound sealing ribbon or tape 44 of a material which is impervious to the product is adhesively secured to the inside surface of the liner ply 36 in such manner that it covers the butt jont 42 and prevents the product from gaining access to the kraft backing 4i). In the container bodyof FIG. 2, the sealing ribbon 44 comprises a strip of unbacked aluminum foil which is of suiicient thickness that it can be handled without tearing during the body forming operations. Generallyv speaking, it is thought that aluminum foil having a thickness of .0005 inch or more is sufficiently strong so that it need not be laminated to a paper backing.

body

pressure-sensitive adhesive (not shown) which is also irnpervious to the product so that it prevents seepage of the product between the sealing ribbon 44 and the foilflayer 38 and into thekratt backing40. The particular adhesiveA used forms no part of the instant invention, as Vits composition may vary according to the` requirements ofthe particular container body being made. One Ysuitable 'adhesive is 'the polyamide adhesive disclosed iny United States Patent 2,840,264 issued to James -I-I. Groves. Among other types lof adhesives which are suitable are those comprising copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, either alone or in admixture withlmaleic anhydride or vinyl alcohol modiiied vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers; AAlthough the sealing ribbon 44 is preferably formed of aluminum foil, it is notlimited to such material and'can be made of any suitable materialfwhich is impermeable to thefproduct.V Examples of such kother materials are other metallic foils, and plastics such ,as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.

FIG. 3 discloses a body construction which is some#` kwhat diierent from theY construction disclosed in FIG. 2.

In this version', the label vply'20 andthe two main body plies 28, are similark to the corresponding plies of l47'is formed' of a two'ply lamination,thelouterl layer 48,

Vi.e., the one vwhich `faces theY liner 36, comprising, very thin aluminum foil which is supported by a suitablevbaclcv layer 38. The purpose ofthe backing 49 is to support the thin foil 48 during manufacturev ofthe'body, and the Y i 4 label ply 20 is fed ontoit to'fprovide adecorative protective outer covering having the lap joint 26. The inside surface of the label ply 20 isrcoated with a suitable .ad-

hesive (not shown) to adhere it to the outer body ply 28. If desired, the label ply 20 may be printed with uni-l tary label designs which are printed at an angle between the lines 68 and which,VV after winding, form complete unitary circumferential labels on the wound tube 60. Thereafter, the tube tl'rnoves olf Vthe free'end of the mandrel 50, f and is cut along the ylines, 68 to form individual container bodies 12. It willbe noted that the various adhesives which secures, the plies of the body 12 together are not shown in FIGURES'Z and 3 for the sake of clarity of illustration. Y v Y v p FIG. 5 illustrates a slightly modified method of forming the bodies k12. This method difers from the just described method in that here the'sealingribbon 44 isv laminated to the :trailing edge portion of the linear ply 36 prior to the time these elementsy of the body 12 reach the fmandrel 50. The outer surfacerof'the' sealing ribbon 44 is coated with theladhesive 54, just asin the method of FIG. 4, :and the adhesive coated ribbon and the liner ply 36 are brought together'as they approach the 'mandrel `50y with the trail- FIG. 2. However, the' liner ply 3 6 is formed with a lap joint 46, instead nf the bua innig-12, and .the sealing ribbnn mandrel 50. 3o Y fact thatthe backing Vis exposedA to thueproduct inthe" containerV is immaterial.

FIG. 4 discloses-the vpreferred method of Vmanntacturing i the container body 12. In this method, the body 12 is formed on a stationary mandrel 50which is vfure'dly anchored at one end in a block 52, the other end of the mandrel S0 beingfree and 'unanchored The sealing ribbon 44, its outer'face coated with a suitable impermeable adhesive 54, is first wound onto the mandrel ,50 at a point ment with the center line'of the sealing ribbon`44 so that after one revolution around the mandrel, its leading edge lis butted against its trailing edge to form' the butt joint '42,Y which'iscentrallydisposed beneath the sealing ribbon 44. Y The-sealingribbon 44 is iirmly adhered'to'the'inner Vsurface 'of the' liner ply 36 byV the adhesive '54,so that itV seals the'bnttfA joint 4 2 against the ypenetration of fluid,` It

`- may be desirable'to space theV adhesive 54l inwardly from the edges 'of the sealing ribbon 44 to prevent itfrorn being squeezed onto themndrel during the ywinding opera-` tion, `A "continuous lm ofV a suitableefadhesiv'e l5611s applied `to the outside surface of 'the-liner; ply" 36"asit v 45,. adjacent the block 52.. Next, the liner ply 36 1s 'britt y wound onto the mandrel 5 0 with its trailing edge in align- Y 30 1s then butt Wound over Y ing edge of the linerply" 36 in alignment with the center line of the ribbon 44. The overlapped portions ofthe ribbon and linerk ply 36 are then pressed togetherl.by 'a pair of pressure-rolls to prelaminate them and thus insure their registrati'cmv as they are Vwound around ltlzie YIt, is thought that the yinvention and many of its attendant advantages Will be understood 'from' the foregoing ldescription and it will be apparentrthat variouschanges ,may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of'thepa'rts and that changes maybe made in`the` steps of the method described and their order .of yaccomplishmentl without departing from the spirit andl scope of the invention or sacricing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbevfore described; being merelyVv a' preferred embodiment thereof;

. l. A u'idTtight container body for product, comprising; Aat ,lf ast on helic l uidproduct," j a helical liner' ply disposed inwardly of said body ply, said .hner ffply Ycomprising an inner layer which`is 'irnpervious to the product and an outer backing layer whichis pervious to the product,"

the edgesl of vsaid linerplybeing disposed pintand v a helical sealing ribbondisposed inwardly of said helil cal. joint and covering it to prevent the product from v `gaining, accessto the pervious backinglayer of said Y liner' plyand said pervious body`ply," f

said sealing'ribbon comprising a layer which is impervious to theproduct, saidimperviousrsealing ribbon layer being Vdisposed directly adjacent the inner l pervious' layer ofsaid linerl plyl and being secured here a ,fluid in a helical v,thereto on both sidesV voffsaid helical liner ply jointbyV an adhesive which is ihipervious'to, the product. 2'. A fluid-tight container fonbolding a huid product, comprising: e

facefof theplyt) as it approaches the rnandrel50. `Next, Y'

the outermain body ply/128 is buttfwound over the inner. ply' 3 0 and is secured thereto by theadhesiveSS. Ncadhesiveisapplied tothe .body p15 281 I The vtube/60 which isV formed by these Yplies is now passed beneath an endless winding belt 62`which operates i arounda driven drum`64 andran'fidler/ and'y'is looped aroundmthe mandrel Vv50'vlin tight driving" engagementtube :69 to move,y it helicallypalong the lfrnandrel S0, and4 to pullthe `various plies'which comprise A,

l the tribe fromfthe supplyfrollsY which contain -stherrn Y After i :fthe tube 6 0 passesfrombeneath the .winding belt ,62,ithe

at least one helicalbody ply whichis-pervious to the nnidiprndncng i; Y l g ahelical liner plydisposed inwardly of"said body ply, saidfliner ply comprising an-innerlayerwhichfisim- Lpervious' to the product and Va'rinout'ery ba'eling layerj. #which is pervious to the product, Y

the edges of said` liner ply beingY disposedv ina Ihelical joint, vand `a helical sealing ribbon disposedr inwardly of saidr helical joint andcovering it to prevent the product from gaining accesstothe pervious backing layer'ofsid lin'erply'and said perviousbody ply, f said' sealing ribbon comprising an outer-lla erv which lbody ply isA pervious tothev is impervious to the product and an inner brous supporting layer,

said outer impervious sealing ribbon layer being disposed directly adjacent the inner impervious layer of said liner ply and being secured thereto on both sides of said helical liner ply joint by an adhesive which is impervious to the product.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Horning 229-45 Stuart 229-45 X Vallas 229-4.5 X McBain 93-94 Geist 93--94 Whelan et al. 229--45 Pottle 229-4.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

GEGRGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A FLUID-TIGHT CONTAINER BODY FOR HOLDING A FLUID PRODUCT, COMPRISING: AT LEAST ON HELICAL BODY PLY WHICH IS PERVIOUS TO THE FLUID PRODUCT, A HELICAL LINER PLY DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID BODY PLY, SAID LINER PLY COMPRISING AN INNER LAYER WHICH IS IMPERVIOUS TO THE PRODUCT AND AN OUTER BACKING LAYER WHICH IS PERVIOUS TO THE PRODUCT, THE EDGES OF SAID LINER PLY BEING DISPOSED IN A HELICAL JOINT, AND A HELICAL SEALING RIBBON DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID HELICAL JOINT AND COVERING IT TO PREVENT THE PRODUCT FROM GAINING ACCESS TO THE PERVIOUS BACKING LAYER OF SAID LINER PLY AND SAID PERVIOUS BODY PLY, SAID SEALING RIBBON COMPRISING A LAYER WHICH IS IMPERVIOUS TO THE PRODUCT, SAID IMPERVIOUS SEALING RIBBON LAYER BEING DISPOSED DIRECTLY ADJACENT THE INNER IMPERVIOUS LAYER OF SAID LINER PLY AND BEING SECURED THERETO ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID HELICAL LINER PLY JOINT BY AN ADHESIVE WHICH IS IMPERVIOUS TO THE PRODUCT. 